Cribbing



April 4, 1939. w. D. SCHENK CRIBBING Filed July 13, 1956 IE'EJ.

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April 4, 1939. w. D. scHENK vCRIBBING Filed July 15, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WALTER DE :HENK

Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of cribbing employed for retaining walls, etc. and is related to my co-pending applications for Cribbing, Serial Nos. `'712,972 and 712,973 (Patent No. 2,092,933),

`both filed February 26, 1934.

In the present invention, as in the companion applications above referred to, the cribbing consists entirely of metallic structure and is an improvement upon the old wooden and concrete cribbing and also upon certain recent attempts at metal cribbing.

In the present invention, as in the companion applications above referred to, the objects are to devise an all-metal cribbing structure with comparatively little surface area exposed. to the natural elements and in which there is permitted a comparatively large degree of back-fill with a correspondingly great degree of strength; to devise such a structure in which the component elements are of comparatively light weight and small bulk for increased ease of handling and erection without sacricing any of the strength required; to devise such a structure of fabricated form that possesses a certain desirable degree of flexibility which is made possible by the form and nature of material employed; to devise such a structure in such manner that the loss of backll is reduced to practically nil while there is permitted adequate drainage; to devise such a structure that can be conveniently and eiiiciently adapted to any given set of conditions and at reasonable cost as regards manufacture and assembly of the component elements as well as up-keep.

The speciiic form of header members and their combination with the stretcher' members and also the spacer elements, as disclosed in this particular application, also constitute a part of the present invention and the specific features of construction comprised therein are to be considered as coming within the objects of this invention.

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a front elevation of a cribbing structure which embodies my present invention and which illustrates one structure and arrangement of the stretcher members;

Fig, 2 is a perspective view of one combination of header and spacer members, with parts broken away;

Fig.v 3 is a perspective View of a header member or the same form as shown in Fig. 2, the cover or end plate being omitted from one end;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of header member, the cover or end plate being omitted from one end thereof;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the end or cover plates;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a spacer member of one form;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a spacer member of another form;

Fig. 8 is a plan View of a cribbing structure which embodies my present invention and which illustrates one form thereof;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of partthereof, this View indicating the omission of the stretcher members from the spacer elements at the rear of the cribbing;

Fig. 10 illustrates a modied combination of header and spacer; and

Fig. l1 illustrates another modified combination of header and spacer.

It is to be understood that the specific embodiment of the present invention, as herein set forth, is merely for purposes of illustration and that there may be devised numerous other forms of construction which also embody this invention and which are intended to be comprehended by the spirit of the present disclosure.

The stretcher members are in the form of steel plates, and those at the front of the cribbing structure may be of either single or multiple length or width, as indicated by reference numeral l in Fig. 1. These front stretcher plates are arranged end to end laterally and in vertically disposed tiers, with the end joints between adjacent stretcher members staggered, if so desired". The stretcher members la at the rear of the cribbing structure are applied in the same manner as at the front with respect to relative arrangement of the joints, but at the rear the stretcher members are applied only to the headers and not to the spacer members. At the front, the stretcher members are slightly spaced from each other so as to permit drainage o water therethrough, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The stretcher members are provided with bolt holes 2 at their ends in the case of single length members, and at the ends and also middle in the caseY of double length members. In the middle of the double length members, there are provided double rows of bolt holes in vertical alignment with the two rows of bolt holes in the abutting ends of stretcher members thereabove or therebelow.

The header members in the present form of invention are in the form shown in Fig. 3 or in Fig. 4, both of which may be regarded as an open girder, joist or truss, as will more fully appear from the following description.

In Fig. 3, the header consists of pairs of L- shaped metal bars 3 with single metal plates 4 welded between the corresponding vertical flanges of the pairs of L-members, so as to virtually form a T at top and bottom of the header member. The end of the plate 4, in each case, is flush with the ends of the L-shaped bars 3, and the plates are welded across the ends thereof so as to cover the ends of the header members, these plates 5 being of dimensions corresponding with the ends of the assembled L-shaped members. The plates 4 extend only through the end portions of the .L-shaped members so as to leave open space therebetween throughout the greater extent of the header members. The end portions of the L-shaped members are provided with the bolt holes 6, and the end plates 5 have the bolt holes 1. The bolt holes 6 are intended for attachment of the header members to the spacer members, to be described, while the bolt holes l are for the attachment of the stretcher members I.

There may be employed a modied-form of header member, as indicated in` Fig. 4 of the drawings. In this modied form, I provide upper and lower T-bars 8 which have their legs welded at their end portions between the duplicate plates il which terminate with the ends of the T-shaped bars 8. Plates 5 are also welded across the ends of the T-shaped bars and plates 9 in the same manner as above described. The plates 5, in this case, also are provided with the bolt holes 'I for the attachment of the stretcher members in the same manner as above explained in connection with the other form. The top and bottom of the T-shaped bars 8 have bolt holes I0 for attachment of the spacer members, as will be explained.

The spacer member may take either one of two forms which are illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, respectively. The form in Fig. 6 is a duplicate of the end portion of the header member shown in Fig. 3, while the spacer in Fig. 'l is a duplicate of the end portion of the header member shown in Fig. 4. Each spacer comprises top and bottom portions of virtuallyT-form with an intermediate plate or plates connecting these T-form top and bottom portions, and a cover plate at the end.

For instance, in Fig. 6 the spacer has the L- shaped bars I I at top and bottom with the intermediate single plate I2 Welded between the pairs of vertical iianges of these bars, and the cover or end plate I3 welded across the end thereof. rThe top and bottom flanges of the L-shaped bars are provided with bolt holes I4 for connection with the corresponding bolt holes of the header members as above referred to. The end plates I3 are provided with the bolt holes I5 for attachment of the stretcher members. The spacer member shown in Fig. 6 may be employed in combination with either the form of header indicated in Fig. 3 or with that indicated in Fig. 4, the bolt holes being spaced in such manner as to permit this interchangeable use. The combination of the spacer shown in Fig. 6 with the header shown in Fig. 4 is illustratedv in part in Fig. l0, it being understood that this modied combination has the same arrangement at both front and rear of the cribbing, so far as these parts are concerned.

The other form of spacer member, Fig. '7, comprises upper and lower T-shaped bars I6 with their vertical legs welded between the duplicate plates I'I, and a cover plate I8 welded across the end thereof. As above stated, this structure is the same as the end portion of the header shown in Fig. 4. In this spacer, there are bolt holes I9 provided in the top and bottom thereof for the connection to the corresponding bolt holes in the header members, and the bolt holes 20 in the plate I8 serve for attachment of the stretcher plates. The form of spacer shown in Fig. 7 may be combined with either the header illustrated in Fig. 3 or that in Fig. 4, the bolt holes being arranged with this alternate use in mind. The combination of the spacer shown in Fig. '7 with the header shown in Fig. 3 is illustrated in part in Fig. 1'1, it being understood that these elements have the same relative arrangement at both front and rear of the cribbing.

Fig. 2 shows the combination of the header of Fig. 3 with the form of spacer shown in Fig. 6 and, as here indicated, the structure and arrangement of the header and spacer members is the same at both the front and rear of the cribbing structure. The same will be true of the other form of header member and spacer member except for the possible choice of the alternate forms of spacer members, as above explained.

The height of the cribbing structure desired will, of course, determine the number of tiers of header members and the number of stretcher plates to be applied thereto. It will be understood that the ends of the vertically arranged headers will be bolted alternately to the middle of a double length stretcher member and to the ends of laterally adjacent stretcher members, in the case of staggered arrangement of joints. Thus, in such arrangement, some of the header members have their ends secured across the joint between the ends of laterally adjacent stretcher members.

As will be seen from Fig. 2, the assembled headers and spacers may be regarded as virtually comprising front and rear columns which are connected by the intermediate portions of the headers in the form of horizontally disposed rod, or bar, or girder, or `ioist or truss members, the structure being otherwise open except for the stretcher members which are applied thereto. Hence, it might be said that this cribbing, after installation, has structures at the front and rear resembling columns, herein referred to as columnlike structures.

It is to be understood that the cribbing structure can be made of any desired size or shape according to any given set of conditions. The designs indicated in Figs. l and 8 are merely illustrative. Likewise, single and/or double lengths of stretcher members may be employed whenever suitable.

If so desired, small tie plates can be' secured in suitable manner across the adjacent horizontal edges of adjacent stretcher plates for the purpose of holding the same in the same vertlcal plane, if such means should be necessary.

My entire cribbing structure may preferably be fabricated from steel, the header and stretcher members as well as all other parts being formed preliminarily in standard sizes which may be kept in stock. Also, the headers are to be recognized .as self-contained units which may be handled and applied as such.

This structure is of comparatively light weight and accordingly involves a comparatively small quantity of structural material, which means greater convenience in shipping and handling and assembling the several units and also a comparatively low cost of materials, shipping and labor.

At the same time, because of the particular structure and arrangement of the girder form of headers, tcgether with the stretchers, the entire combination is capable of withstanding the stresses to which subjected `by the load of material which fills the same. Notonly does the girder iorm of header prove most efcient in supporting the load but the entire structure possesses a certain degree cf flexibility by virtue of the particular form of header and stretcher members.

Also, the particular form of headers permits the earth and other such material to be lled in between the headers and also around the same, which means a more compact mass approaching the condition of a self-supporting load, since the load upon the top of any given header is comparatively light because of the comparatively small extent of top surface of each header member. At the same time, the back-fill of earth etc. is permitted to entirely flll the space between the headers and thus surround each and every header member and with practically no void. Thus the header members may be regarded as constituting virtually a means of embedded vmetallic reinforcement for the practically solid body of back-fill, which is the ideal condition for a cribbing or retaining wall structure.

The header members may be made in any suitable manner. Furthermore, I have devised a convenient and efficient means of connecting the header members and also for connecting the front and rear stretcher members to the header members and front spacer members.

Also, the practically continuous front wall afforded b y the structure and arrangement of the front stretcher members, prevents the back-fill from being washed away through the cribbing. At the same time, I have allowed suicient space between the stretcher members to permit passage of water through the same without carrying away any of the back-lill. The practically continuous front wall also lends to the appearance of the structure which can be Still further improved by application of aluminum paint or the like thereto, and such a coating would protect the same against the natural elements.

As in the co-pending applications above referred to, some of the header members may be of greater length and metal spacers may be inserted between the longer headers midway of the length thereof and at points in the same plane as those spacers between the rear ends of the shorter headers. These intermediate sp-acers may be duplicates of the front and rear spacers and may have their top and bottom flanges welded to the flanges of the header members. In this way, the middle portions of the long-er headers are reinforced against the load applied thereto by the weight of the shorter headers above. Thus, I am enabled to employ longer headers without sacricing any of the strength which is characteristic of the cribbing structure in which shorter lengths of header members are employed.

At the bottom of the cribbing structure, I have provided the footer stretchers 2i in the form of metal strips which extend across the bottom of the structure. These footing stretchers are welded or otherwise suitably secured tothe cribbing structure at the front and rear and also at a point just beneath and in the plane of the auxiliary spacers, in` the case of longer headers being employed, as above suggested.

The footing stretchers each have a depending flange 2la which is intended to engage the ground upon which the cribbing structure is built, so as to assist in maintaining the same in set position.

In case the cribbing should beset upon rock or ground of a rocky nature, then the flanges 2|a may be omitted or it may be provided as an upwardly extending flange at the front edge thereof for reinforcing purposes. Such upwardly extending ange woul-d be provided only at intervals upon the middle footer stretcher, that is, between the headers, as will be understood.

Any and all other modifications of the present disclosure are intended to be comprehended by the following claims, so far as such modifications come Within the spirit of the. present invention as herein set forth.

Wha-t I claim is:

1. A cribbing structure. comprising stretcher and header members, said header members being self-contained units of open form and each consisting of upper and lower metal bars, intermediate means secured in spaced relation between said metal bars, and cover members at the ends thereo-f, and means for securing said stretcher members to said cover members.

2. A cribbing structure, comprising sheet metal front and rear stretcher members, said front stretcher members forming a substantially closed wall, said rear stretcher` members being arranged in spaced relation so as to provide space Vtherebetween, spa-ced header members of open form having closed ends to which the front and rear stretcher members are secured, and spacer members arranged between said header members at the i'ront and rear ends thereof.

3. A cribbing structure, comprising stretcher and header members, said header members being self-contained units of open form and each consisting of upper and lower metal T-forms, intermediate plate means secured between only the end portions of said upper and lower T-forms so as to form an open girder, and cover members at the ends thereof, and means for securing said stretcher members Ito said cover members.

4. A cribbing structure, comprising stretcher and header members, said header members being self-contained units of open form and each consisting of upper an-d lower metal T-form of bars, intermediate plates secured to the opposite sides of the legs of the T-form of bars, and cover members at the ends thereof, and means for securing said stretcher members to said cover members.

5. A cribbing structure, comprising stretcher and header members, said header members being self-contained units of open form and each consisting of upper and lower metal L-bars arranged in pairs, intermediate plate means secured between and joining the pairs of L-bars, and cover members at the ends thereof, and means for securing said stretcher members to said cover members.

6. A cribbing structure, comprising stretcher and header members, said header members being self-contained units of open form and each consisting of upper and lower metal bars, intermediate means secured between said metal bars, and

cover members at the ends thereof adapted for attachment oi the stretcher members, spacer means between the ends of said header members, said spacer means being duplicates of the end portions of said header members, and means for attaching said stretcher members to the front and rear ends of the header members.

'7. A cribbing structure, comprising stretcher and header members, said header members being self-contained units of open form and each consisting of upper and lower metal T-forms, intermediate plate means secured between the end portions of said upper and lower T-forms so as to form a g'irder, and cover members at the ends thereof adapted for attachment of the. stretcher members, spacer means between the ends of said header members, said spacer means being duplicates of the end portions of said header members, and means for attaching said stretcher members to the front and rear ends of the header members.

8. A cribbing structure, comprising stretcher and header members, said header members being self-contained units of open form and each consisting of upper and lower metal L-forms arranged in pairs, intermediate plate means secured between and'joining only the end portions of the L-forms, cover members at the ends thereof, adapted for attachment of the stretcher members, spacer means between the ends of said header members, said spacer means being duplicates of the end portions of the header members, and means for attaching said stretcher members to the front and rear ends of the header members.

9. A cribbing structure, comprising. stretcher and header members, said header members being self-contained units of open form and each consisting of upper and lower metal T-forms, intermediate plate means secured between the end portions of said upper and lower T-forms so as to form a girder, and cover members at the ends thereof adapted for attachment of Ithe stretcher members, spacer means between the ends of said header members, said spacer means consisting of upper and lower pairs of L-bars and intermediate plates secured between said L-bars, and cover members secured to the outer ends thereof, and means for attaching the stretcher members to the frontand rear ends of the header members.

10. A cribbing structure, comprising stretcher and header members, said header members being self-contained units of open form and each consisting of upper and lower metal L-forms arranged in pairs, intermediate plates secured between and joining only the end portions of the L-forms, and cover members at the ends thereof adapted for attachment of the stretcher members, spacer means between only the end portions of the header members, said spacer means consisting of upper and lower T-forms and intermediate plate means secured between the T- forms, and cover members at the ends thereof, and means for securing the stretcher members to the iront and rear ends of the header members.

11. A cribbing comprising column-like structures at front and rear, header means each comprising a pair of spaced members for connecting said column-like structures so as to form an open girder type of construction, front and rear stretcher members, and means for securing the stretcher members to the front and rear columnlike structures.

WALTER D. SCHENK. 

